Living in Chicago: cost, climate, Chinese community & taxes

💰 Money

Cost of living (US = 100)

103.6 (above average)

Median rent

$1,469/mo

Median home value

$340k

Median household income

$91k

🌤️ Climate

January average

25.2°F -4°C

July average high

84.5°F 29°C

Rain + snow (water) per year

37.86 in

Days ≥ 90°F / ≤ 32°F

17 / 121 days/yr

NOAA station: O'Hare (USW00094846), 1991–2020

🥟 People & community

Population

9.4M

Chinese / Taiwanese

1.3% ~122k

Asian

7.8%

Bachelor’s degree+ (adults)

43.1%

Computer / engineering / science jobs

7.6%

🚇 Getting around

Commute by transit

9.0%

Drive alone to work

62.5%

Work from home

14.9%

Average commute

31 min

🧾 Taxes

State income tax (top rate)

4.95% IL

Sales tax (state + avg. local)

8.98%

✈️ Flights to China

No nonstop to mainland China from ORD — you’ll connect